Multiple billet continuous casting mold



Sept. 26, R J D MULTIPLE BILLET CONTINUOUS CASTING MOLD Filed Aug. 25, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Q m w w y a, g\\ 1/ k 4w M 7 2 2 ww & .10 f v T A 1 1 2 3 1 m IMvEu-roR R. J.' Da/n BY bg roeuzv Sept. 26, 1967 2 z/ m m Sept. 26, 1967 R. J. DAIN 3,343,594

- MULTIPLEBILLETCONTINUOUSCASTINGMOLD FiledAu g.25,1965 ssneets-sheeta Invsnwroa Z04 WWW A-r-roIzME-v United States Patent Ofifice 3,343,594 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 3,343,594 MULTIPLE BILLET CONTINUOUS CASTING MOLD Richard James Dain, Tonbridge, England, assignor to Davy and United Engineering Company Limited, Sheffield, England Filed Aug. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 482,377 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Aug. 31, 1964, 35,591/ 64 7 Claims. (Cl. 164-281) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mould having a plurality of adjacent mould channels separated by partitions, each partition defining a connecting passage at the level of the meniscus of molten metal during casting whereby metal poured into one channel can flow through the connecting passage into an adjacent channel.

This invention relates to an open ended mould for continuous casting of metals and in particular to a mould having a plurality of adjacent cooled mould channels for producing at the same time a plurality of cast blocks. In multiple strand casting, the rates at which metal is delivered to each mould channel must be equal to balance the withdrawal rates of the cast blocks. It has been previously suggested, for example in British patent specification No. 820,582, to make a continuous casting mould in which the mould has a plurality of cooled mould channels, into which molten metal is poured directly, preferably into only one of the channels, and adjacent channels being connected throughout the length of the mould by passages of reduced width compared with the mould channels, so that adjacent issuing blocks are connected by a web, which must then be slit. This has overcome the difiiculty of balancing the withdrawal rates of the cast product and reduced the number of operators necessary, but there is a certain expense involved in slitting the webs to separate the ingots.

The present invention comprises a reciprocable open ended mould formed from high heat conductivity material and having a plurality of adjacent mould channels the walls of which are adapted to be cooled, each channel be ing separated from the adjacent channel or channels by a partition or partitions, the cross-section of the mould being substantially the same at the end into which molten metal is poured as at the end from which the cast strands are withdrawn, the or each partition defining a connecting passage at the level of the meniscus of molten metal during casting whereby metal poured into one channel can flow through the connecting passage into an adjacent channel, at least the portion of the or each partition around a passage being formed of refractory or graphitic material, and heating means arranged to heat the portion of the or each partition around the passage.

Embodiments of continuous casting mould, in accordance with the invention, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical axial section through a first embodiment of mould,

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line IIH of FIG- URE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section on the line III-III of FIGURE 4 through a second embodiment of mould,

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section through the mould of FIGURE 3.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2, the mould 12, which is intended for casting of metals, is made of a high heat conductivity material such as copper or copper alloy or steel. The mould is formed with three adjacent mould channels 13, 14 and 15, separated from each other by partitions 16, integral with the outer walls of the mould, and extending over the whole length of the mould except at the top. A removable window insert 17, formed of refractory material, graphite or a graphitic substance, is located at the top of each partition to form an upward continuation of the partition and part of the side walls of the mould. Each insert 17 has a window 18 formed therein which provides a passage between adjacent mould channels at the level of the meniscus 20 of molten metal during casting, whereby metal can flow from the channel to the other above the level of the base 21 of the insert. The base 21 of each insert covers its associated conducting partition and prevents metal freezing onto the top of that partition, while the sides 22 of the insert prevent metal freezing onto the sides of the mould above the conducting partition. The base of each insert should be located so that the meniscus never falls below the refractory insert except during start up while the sides should project upwards for a sufiicient distance that the meniscus never rises'higher than the level of the insert. The top 23 of the insert is merely provided for strength. Each insert is removable and is replaceable since it will tend to wear away due to flow of metal through the window 18. An electric heater element or electric induction coil 24 is located in a passage 25 in the base 21 of each insert to assist in the prevention of metal solidification in the interconnecting passages 18. Such heating may also be provided in the side walls 22. Each partition may be provided with 1 to 10 kw. electrical energy and preferably about 3 kw. energy.

It will be realised that the outer walls of the mould are continuously cooled during operation and that the mould is reciprocated by means conventional in the art.

The mould 26 shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 is formed from outer walls 27, formed from high heat conductivity material, defining three adjacent mould channels 28, separated from one another along substantially the whole length of the mould by partitions 30 which are made of refractory material, graphite or a graphitic substance. Each partition 30 is located in slots 31 in the walls 27 so that it can be easily removed from and replaced in the mould. The upper part of each partition 30 defines a passage 32 connecting adjacent channels 28 at the level of the meniscus of molten metal during casting. The upper and lower edges 33 of each passage are chamfered.

The outer walls 27 are formed in two parts each secured by bolts 33 to a backing plate 34 along the major dimension of the mould, the parts of the walls 27 and the backing plates 34 being bolted together by bolts 35. Passages 36 for circulation of cooling water are provided between the outside of walls 27, the backing plates 34 and triangular inserts 37 bolted by bolts 38 to the inside of the backing plates. An electric cable 39 is connected to the top of each partition to supply around 4 kw. energy to prevent metal freezing onto the web. A ground wire is connected to the mould wall 27.

In operation, molten metal is poured into the top of the mould, preferably only into one channel, and flows through the passages 32 to equalise the levels in the channels, electrical heating is applied to the Webs 30, cooling water is circulated in the passages 36 and the mould is reciprocated by means conventional in the art.

I claim:

1. A reciprocable open ended mould formed from high heat conductivity material and having at least two mould channels the walls of which are adapted to be cooled, the cross section of the mould being substantially the same at the end into which molten metal is poured as at the end from which the cast strands are withdrawn, each two adjacent channels being separated by a partition deof each partition around the passage.

2. A mould according to claim 1 in which the top of each partition is formed as a separate removable insert of refractoryor graphitic material having the passage therethrough, the bottom of each partition being integral with the outer walls of the mould.

3. A mould according to claim 1 in which'each parti- I tion extends substantially the whole length of the mould,

is formed from refractory or graphitic material and is removable from and replaceable in the mould. 4. A mould according to claim 3 in which the heating means comprises means for connecting an electrical voltage to each partition. 7 e

5. A mould according to claim 1 in which each heating means comprises an electric heating element passing 4 through at least the portion of its partition below the passage.

6. A mould according to claim 1 in which each heat-.

ing means comprises means for applying a voltage across a partition to pass a current through the partition.

7. A mould according to claim 1 in which each heating means is arranged to supply between 1 and 10 kw. energy, preferably between 3 and 5 kw. energy.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,878,537 3/1959 Brennan 22--57.2

. FOREIGN PATENTS 1,080,427 6/ 1954 France. 1,339,997 9/1963 France. 1,385,304 11/1964 France. 7

121,913 1959 Russia.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner;

R. S. ANNEAR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RECIPROCABLE OPEN MOULD FORMED FROM HIGH HEAT CONDUCTIVITY MATERIAL AND HAVING AT LEAST TWO MOULD CHANNELS THE WALLS OF WHICH ARE ADAPTED TO BE COOLED, THE CROSS SECTION OF THE MOULD BEING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AT THE END INTO WHICH MOLTEN METAL IS POURED AS AT THE END FROM WHICH THE CAST STRANDS ARE WITHDRAWN, EACH TWO ADJACENT CHANNELS BEING SEPARATED BY A PARTITION DEFINING A CONNECTING PASSAGE AT THE LEVEL OF THE MENISCUS OF MOLTEN METAL DURING CASTING WHEREBY METAL POURED INTO ONE CHANNEL CAN FLOW THROUGH THE PASSAGE INTO AN ADJACENT CHANNEL, AT LEAST THE PORTION OF EACH PARTITION AROUND A PASSAGE BEING FORMED OF REFRACTORY OR GRAPHITE MATERIAL, AND HEATING MEANS ARRANGED TO HEAT THE PORTION OF EACH PARTITION AROUND THE PASSAGE. 